Chapter 17: Hymn of Shadows
He stood upon cracked marble plains Winds howled through silent towers carrying the scent of burned flesh and melted gold Shadows coiled around his ankles flowing across fractured stone like silent rivers of darkness
He closed his eyes
A memory flickered
His hands cupped around a trembling sparrow Rain fell in cold sheets soaking his ragged cloak The bird shivered within his grip feathers slick with blood He pressed it against his chest feeling its tiny heart beat against his ribs
Please live
The sparrow died before dawn
He opened his eyes Shadows pulsed around him like a silent tide
Breather
He drew in a slow breath tasting the cold winds filled with ash and silent screams His pulse beat steady beneath pale skin The world smelled of rot charred bone and wet stone
Trivia detail
He glanced down at his feet A small copper coin lay embedded within cracked marble tarnished green with age A sunburst sigil etched upon its face worn smooth by countless hands It was an old prayer token peasants once carried to guard against shadow spirits
He stepped upon it Shadows crushed copper into silent dust
Ahead rose the Citadel of Dawn carved from white stone crowned with golden towers Flames burned within shattered windows Smoke drifted into pale sky carrying silent prayers of the dead
He approached gates etched with radiant sigils Spears of light carved into silver steel Chains as thick as a man's arm wound around colossal hinges Padlocks forged from obsidian sealed beneath burning wards
He raised his hand Shadows surged forward Black tendrils seeped into silver steel devouring radiant sigils Flames sputtered dying beneath silent darkness Chains split Metal peeled away within silent shrieks Gates collapsed inward Shadows poured into grand courtyards
Inside rose towers carved from ivory stone crowned with sapphire domes Banners of woven gold hung tattered within silent winds Courtyards lay littered with corpses Knights in blackened plate twisted upon bloodstained tiles Servants sprawled across shattered mosaics Eyes frozen wide in silent horror
He walked onward Shadows flowing after him like a silent tide Each step cracked stone sending thin fractures across radiant marble Shadows slithered into those wounds widening them into silent maws
At the citadel's heart rose the Throne Hall A vast chamber lined with obsidian pillars engraved with prayers to the Dawn God Flames flickered within shattered chandeliers casting fractured light across golden tiles
Upon the throne sat the Dawn King clad in robes of silver and sapphire His crown forged from woven gold set with burning opals His face was gaunt Eyes sunken within shadowed sockets Hands clutching the throne's arms with desperate fear
Ruvan stepped forward Shadows curling around shattered pillars pooling across cracked tiles
The king's voice trembled
Why Ruvan Why bring such ruin I gave you everything wealth knowledge magic A throne to call your own
Ruvan tilted his head Shadows rippled in silent laughter
You gave me chains
The king lowered his gaze Tears fell upon silver robes
Then end this End me End this curse you have become
Ruvan raised his hand Shadows exploded outward Wrapping around sapphire robes Crushing delicate bones Blood sprayed across golden throne steps Opal crown rolled away striking cracked tiles with hollow chimes
He stepped past the corpse Shadows flowing after him devouring golden banners and burning sigils Ash drifted down across silent halls covering lifeless bodies in grey oblivion
Breather
He paused before shattered throne His reflection stared back at him within pools of spilled blood Pale skin marred by old scars Eyes empty and cold like dying stars Shadows coiled around him like a silent mantle
He remembered
His mother's smile beneath dawn light Her voice soft with warmth You will be a good king one day my son Gentle but strong Just like your father
He reached down touching his reflection within bloodied tiles Ripples spread distorting pale face into silent void
He stood and turned Shadows rising behind him like endless mountains of darkness
Today I burned your gods Today I erased your knowledge Today I slaughtered your kings Today I devoured your hope
Tomorrow I will consume your dreams
Beyond dreams I will teach you despair etched into dying bones
Beyond despair I will teach you oblivion
And beyond oblivion I will teach you the silence of the eternal abyss
He opened his eyes
Dawn burned pale across silent mountains Shadows rose behind him like endless walls of darkness The empire lay upon broken knees Echoes of silent screams carried upon dead winds
And they would teach the world the truth of unending nothingness